Community Engagement
The IU Southeast Fine Arts program recognizes the importance of community engagement and the vital role the visual arts plays in community outreach. Our BA and BFA graduating seniors have regularly exhibited off campus in New Albany and in Louisville. Many of these exhibitions have been installed in older buildings in downtown New Albany. Students repurpose these spaces by transforming them into gallery exhibition venues. These gallery events and opening receptions bring together IU Southeast students, their family, and members of the local community. Seven senior group exhibitions have been held in the in downtown New Albany since 2011.
In 2013 and 2014, IU Southeast Fine Arts program seniors exhibited at the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Craft in downtown Louisville. The exhibitions were held in the Brown Foreman Gallery at the museum. In 2015, our seniors participated in a two-month exhibition at the Garner Narrative Gallery, a well-respected commercial gallery in the heart of Louisville’s NULU Gallery district.
BA exhibition, State Street, New Albany, Indiana
The Dirt Bags student art club has taken part in annual festivals like the Pitty Fair, Louisville, KY, and organized student events and public art sales on campus. Since 2010, the on-campus Space Lab has been a venue for public exhibitions of collaborative and experimental work by students and visiting artists.
Through the Design Center, our Graphic Design students gain both practical and conceptual skills for innovative design solutions provided to local businesses, non-profits, and collegiate partners. Some of our clients include: the Mid-America Print Council, Women in Recovery (WIR), Indiana University Southeast’s Music program, School of Arts and Letters, School of Business, School of Education, the Undergraduate Research Journal, and more.
In addition, our faculty engage in the community by participating in or attending local exhibitions, acting as jurors for scholastic exhibitions, serving as curators for local exhibitions, organizing visiting artist lectures in the community, etc.
